Image device, image device controlling method, and program

ABSTRACT

An image device connected to an external device via a first communication interface and a second communication interface different from the first communication interface, the image device including an image capturing unit that captures an image in response to a shooting instruction, a sharing unit that shares a communication parameter used for connecting the image device to the external device via the first communication interface with the external device via the second communication interface with the external device, a connection unit that connects the image device to the external device via the first communication interface using the communication parameter shared using the sharing unit, and a control unit that controls the sharing unit to start a process for sharing the communication parameter with the external device using the second communication interface according to the shooting instruction.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to an image devicecapable of wireless communication.

2. Description of the Related Art

A technology that wirelessly transmits an image to another device byinstalling a wireless communication function on a digital camera isknown in recent years. For example, Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2009-171491 discloses a digital camera that wirelesslytransmits the previously-captured image data to another device using awireless LAN.

However, it is necessary for the user in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2009-171491 to give instructions of the execution of thecommunication function, for example, by the operation of the menu inorder to switch the mode to the communication mode after capturing animage in the image capturing mode. As a method for saving the user fromhaving to do the above, it can be considered that a device is configuredto establish a communication with a device to be the destination inadvance in order, when an image is captured, to automatically transmitthe image to the device. However, even in the configuration describedabove, the user still has to previously connect the devices before thecapture of an image. Furthermore, the configuration is not adequate tochange the destination depending on the captured image.

In light of the foregoing, an objective of the present invention is toreadily and flexibly implement a sequence of processes from the captureof an image to transmission of the image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present disclosure are generally related to readily andflexibly implementing a sequence of processes from the capture of animage to transmission of the image.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image deviceconnected to an external device via a first communication interface anda second communication interface different from the first communicationincludes an image capturing unit configured to capture an image inresponse to a shooting instruction, a sharing unit configured to share acommunication parameter used for connecting the image device to theexternal device via the second communication interface with the externaldevice via the first communication interface with the external device, atransmitting unit configured to transmit an image captured with theimage capturing unit to the external device via the second communicationinterface, and a control unit configured to control the sharing unit tostart a process for sharing the communication parameter with theexternal device using the second communication interface according tothe shooting instruction.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera and a smartphone accordingto a first embodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams of an exemplary screen displayed on thedigital camera according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2C is a diagramof an exemplary screen displayed on the smartphone according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the sequence describing a schematic procedure ofthe communication between the digital camera and smartphone according tothe first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the digital camera accordingto the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the smartphone according tothe first embodiment.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are diagrams of an exemplary screen displayed on adigital camera according to a second embodiment. FIGS. 6D and 6E arediagrams of an exemplary screen displayed on a smartphone according to asecond embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of the information indicating therelationship between the identifier of another device and the object.The information is stored in the digital camera according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the sequence describing the schematic procedureof the communication between the digital camera and smartphone accordingto the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the operation of the digital camera accordingto the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the smartphone according tothe second embodiment.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams of an exemplary screen displayed on thedigital camera according to a third embodiment. FIG. 11C is a diagram ofan exemplary screen displayed on a smartphone according to the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of the information stored in the digitalcamera according to the third embodiment and indicating the relationshipbetween the identifier of another device and an image size.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of the sequence describing the schematic procedureof the communication between the digital camera and smartphone accordingto the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the operation of the digital camera accordingto the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the operation of the smartphone according tothe third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the operation of the digital camera in theimage capturing mode according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the operation of the digital camera in theconsecutive shooting mode according to the fourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail using thereferenced drawings.

Note that the exemplary embodiments to be described below are examplesand can appropriately be modified or changed depending on theconfiguration of the device, etc. The embodiments can appropriately becombined with each other.

First Embodiment Configuration of Each Device

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration of the entire systemusing an exemplary communication system.

Note that, although a digital camera and a smartphone are each describedas an exemplary image device herein, the image device is not limited tothe examples. For example, the image device can be an informationprocessing device such as a mobile media player, a so-called tabletdevice, or a personal computer.

First, a digital camera A100 will be described.

A control unit A101 controls each unit of the digital camera A100according to an input signal or a program to be described below. Notethat, instead of the control on the entire device with the control unitA101, sharing the processes with a plurality of types of hardware cancontrol the entire device.

An image capturing unit A102 includes, for example, an optical lensunit, an optical system that controls aperture, zoom, or focus, and animage capture device configured to convert the light (image) introducedthrough the optical lens unit into an electric image signal. AComplementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) or a Charge CoupledDevice Image Sensor (CCD) is generally used as the image capture device.Under the control with the control unit A101, the image capturing unitA102 converts the object light formed on the lens included in the imagecapturing unit A102 into an electric signal using the image capturedevice, and then performs a noise reduction process or the like in orderto output the digital data as the image data. In the digital camera A100of the present embodiment, the image data is recorded in the recordingmedium A110 according to the standard of Design rule for Camera Filesystem (DCF).

A nonvolatile memory A103 can electrically erase or record the data. Thenonvolatile memory A103 stores, for example, a program that is to bedescribed below and executed in the control unit A101.

A working memory A104 is used as a buffer memory that stores the imagedata captured with the image capturing unit A102, an image displayingmemory of the displaying unit A106, or a working area of the controlunit A101.

An operating unit A105 is used for receiving the instructions on thedigital camera A100 from the user. The operating unit A105 includes forexample, a power source button for the user to give the instructions onON/OFF of the power source of the digital camera A100, a release switchfor the user to give the instructions on the capture of an image, or areply button for the user to give the instructions of the replay of theimage data. The operating unit A105 further includes an operation membersuch as a dedicated connection button for the start of the communicationwith an external device through a connection unit A111 to be describedbelow. The operating unit A105 further includes a touch panel formed ona displaying unit A106 to be described below. Note that the releaseswitch (not illustrated in the drawings) includes an SW1 and an SW2.Putting the release switch into a half-stroke turns the SW1 on. Thisreceives the instructions for the preparation for capturing a stillimage, for example, an auto focus (AF) process, an auto exposure (AE)process AF, an auto white balance (AWB) process, and a flash preliminaryemission (EF) process. Putting the release switch into a full-strokestate turns the SW2 on. This receives the instructions for capturing astill image.

The displaying unit A106 displays, for example, a live-view of the stillimage in a stage of the capturing preparation, the captured still imagedata, or the words of the conversational operation. Note that thedisplaying unit A106 is not necessarily embedded in the digital cameraA100. The digital camera A100 can be connected not only to thedisplaying unit A106, for example, provided on the back side of thecamera but also to a displaying unit A106 outside the camera, and caninclude at least a display control function for controlling the displayof the displaying unit A106.

The recording medium A110 can record the image data output from theimage capturing unit A102. The recording medium A110 can detachably beattached to the digital camera A100 or can be embedded in the digitalcamera A100. In other words, the digital camera A100 can include atleast a means for accessing the recording medium A110.

A connection unit A111 is an interface configured to connect the camerato an external device. The digital camera A100 of the present embodimentcan exchange the data with an external device through the connectionunit A111. Note that, in the present embodiment, the connection unitA111 includes an interface to communicate with an external device via aso-called wireless LAN in compliance with the standard of IEEE 802.11.The control unit A101 implements the wireless communication with anexternal device by controlling the connection unit A111.

A short range wireless communication unit A112 includes, for example, anantenna for wireless communication, a modulation/demodulation circuitfor processing the wireless signal, and a communication controller. Theshort range wireless communication unit A112 implements a short rangewireless communication in compliance with the standard of IEEE 802.15(referred to as Bluetooth (registered trademark)) by outputting themodulated wireless signal from the antenna, or by demodulating thewireless signal received at the antenna. In the present embodiment, theBluetooth® Low Energy version 4.0 that is a low power consumptionversion is adopted for the communication. The Bluetooth® communicationhas a narrower communication range than a wireless LAN communication (inother words, has a short communication range.) The Bluetooth®communication is performed at a lower communication rate than a wirelessLAN communication. On the other hand, the Bluetooth® communicationconsumes a lower power than a wireless LAN communication.

The digital camera A100 has been described above.

A smartphone B100 will be described next.

A control unit B101 controls each unit of the smartphone B100 accordingto an input signal or a program to be described below. Note that,instead of the control on the entire device with the control unit B101,sharing the processes with a plurality of types of hardware can controlthe entire device.

The image capturing unit B102 includes, for example, an optical lensunit, an optical system that controls aperture, zoom, or focus, and animage capture device configured to convert the light (image) introducedthrough the optical lens unit into an electric image signal. A CMOS or aCCD is generally used as the image capture device. Under the controlwith the control unit B101, the image capturing unit B102 converts theobject light formed on the lens included in the image capturing unitB102 into an electric signal using the image capture device, and thenperforms a noise reduction process or the like in order to output thedigital data as the image data. In the smartphone B100 of the presentembodiment, the image data is recorded in the recording medium B110according to the standard of DCF.

A nonvolatile memory B103 can electrically erase or record the data. Thenonvolatile memory B103 stores, for example, a program to be describedbelow and executed in the control unit B101.

A working memory B104 is used as a buffer memory that stores the imagecaptured with the image capturing unit B102, an image displaying memoryof the displaying unit B106, or a working area of the control unit B101.

An operating unit B105 is used for receiving the instructions on thesmartphone B100 from the user. The operating unit B105 includes, forexample, a power source button for the user to give the instructions onON/OFF of the power source of the smartphone B100, or an operationbutton for the user to give the instructions for switching the screen.The operating unit B105 further includes a touch panel formed on adisplaying unit B106 to be described below.

A displaying unit B106 displays, for example, the captured still imagedata, or the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the conversationaloperation. Note that the displaying unit B106 is not necessarilyembedded in the smartphone B100. The smartphone B100 can include atleast a display control function for controlling the contents of thedisplay.

The recording medium B110 can record the image data output from theimage capturing unit B102. The recording medium B110 can detachably beattached to the smartphone B100 or can be embedded in the smartphoneB100. In other words, the smartphone B100 can include at least a meansfor accessing the recording medium B110.

A connection unit B111 is an interface to connect the camera to anexternal device. The smartphone B100 of the present embodiment canexchange the data with an external device through the connection unitB111. Note that, in the present embodiment, the connection unit B111includes an interface to communicate with an external device via aso-called wireless LAN in compliance with the standard of IEEE 802.11.The control unit B101 implements the wireless communication with anexternal device by controlling the connection unit B111.

A short range wireless communication unit B112 includes, for example, anantenna for wireless communication, a modulation/demodulation circuitfor processing the wireless signal, and a communication controller. Theshort range wireless communication unit B112 implements a short rangewireless communication in compliance with the standard of IEEE 802.15(referred to as Bluetooth (registered trademark)) by outputting themodulated wireless signal from the antenna, or by demodulating thewireless signal received at the antenna. In the present embodiment, theBluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy version 4.0 that is a lowpower consumption version is adopted for the communication. Note thatthe characteristics in performance of the Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) communication in comparison with a wireless LAN communicationare the same as in the description of the digital camera A100.

A public wireless communication unit B113 is an interface forimplementing a communication using a public network D100 through a basestation C100. The public wireless communication unit B113 includes anantenna for wireless communication, a modulation/demodulation circuitfor processing the wireless signal, and a communication controller so asto implement a public wireless communication, for example, in compliancewith the standard of W-CDMA (UMTS) or Long Term Evolution (LTE).

The smartphone B100 has been described above.

Note that FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the digital camera A100can communicate with a smartphone B100. However, the digital camera A100can communicate with many smartphones B100.

<Schematic System>

Next, a schematic communication system according to the presentembodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 illustrate exemplary GUIs displayed on the digital camera and thesmartphone to implement the communication system according to thepresent embodiment. FIGS. 2A and 2B are displayed on the displaying unitA106 of the digital camera A100. FIG. 2C is displayed on the displayingunit B106 of the smartphone B100.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the sequence of the flow of the processes fromthe device search to the image transmission in the communication systemaccording to the present embodiment. A digital camera 301 has the sameconfiguration as the digital camera A100. Smartphone 302 and 303 havethe same configuration as the smartphone B100. Hereinafter, thecomponents of each device will be described using the same referencesigns as in the description of FIG. 1. The dotted arrows used in FIG. 3show communications in Bluetooth (registered trademark). The boldfacearrows used in FIG. 3 show communications in wireless LAN. Note thateach of the digital camera and the smartphones can switch the validityand invalidity of the function of each of the Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) and the wireless LAN based on the user operation. Thesequence in FIG. 3 will be described on the assumption that the sequenceis started while the functions of both of the Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) and the wireless LAN are set as valid in all of the devices.

The digital camera 301 starts by receiving the press of the power sourcebutton of the operating unit A105. For example, the live-view screen 210in FIG. 2A is displayed on the displaying unit A106. The imagessequentially input from the image capturing unit A102 are displayed inthe live-view screen 210. Various types of information or icons aresuperimposed on the image and displayed. In FIG. 2A, the setting stateof the flash, the remaining battery, the state of zoom, and the like aresuperimposed and displayed. The display/non-display of the informationcan be switched according to the user operation of the operation of theoperation units in the operating unit A105. Thus, the user can capture adesired image while checking the image on the live-view screen 210. Theinstructions for capturing an image are received with the SW2 of therelease switch included in the operating unit A105 as described above.

The digital camera 301 starts the sequence in FIG. 3 in parallel to theexecution of the photographing process when the release switch of theoperating unit A105 is pressed and the SW2 is turned on.

First, in step S321, the digital camera 301 broadcasts a search request(namely, advertisement) to the peripheral devices via Bluetooth(registered trademark). At that time, the digital camera 301 transmitsthe search request after adding the information capable of uniquelyspecifying its own device (the device ID) to the search request.

After receiving the search request, each of the smartphones 302 and 303transmits a search response to the digital camera 301 via Bluetooth(registered trademark) in step S322. At that time, each of thesmartphone 302 and 303 transmits the search response after adding theinformation indicating its own device (for example, the device ID or theuser name set on the device) to the search response.

After receiving the search response transmitted from the smartphone, thedigital camera 301 displays the transmission confirmation window 220illustrated in FIG. 2B on the displaying unit A106 in step S323. At thattime, the dialog box 221 for selecting the device to which the image isto be transmitted is superimposed and displayed together with thecaptured image in the transmission confirmation window 220 of thedigital camera 301. The digital camera 301 displays the destination list222, the transmission allowance icon 223, and the transmission rejectionicon 224 in the dialog box 221. The destination list 222 is displayedbased on the information added to the search response in step S322. Inother words, in the example of FIG. 2, the search responses aretransmitted from the smartphones of Johnny and Emily, and the devicesthat are the destinations are listed using the character strings“Johnny” and “Emily” that are the user names added to the searchresponses.

When one or more devices that are the image destinations are selectedfrom the destination list 222 and the transmission allowance icon 223 isfurther selected (step S324), the digital camera 301 transmits the imagetransmission request to the selected devices via Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) (step S325). At that time, the digital camera 301 transmitsthe image transmission request after adding the reduced image (namely,the thumbnail) of the captured image to the image transmission request.On the other hand, when the transmission rejection icon 224 is selectedby the touch panel operation with the operating unit A105, the digitalcamera 301 terminates the process in the present sequence to return tothe live-view screen 210.

Hereinafter, the case in which the smartphone 302 is selected in stepS324 will be described as an example. Note that a plurality of devicescan be selected as the image destinations in step S324. In such a case,the processes in and after step S325 are performed with the devices.

When receiving the image transmission request, the smartphone 302displays an image reception confirmation window 230 illustrated in FIG.2C in step S326. At that time, the smartphone 302 displays a reducedimage 232 added to the image transmission request in a dialog box 231.This causes the user of the smartphone 302 to notice the fact that thedigital camera 301 is to transmit the main image of the contents of thedisplayed reduced image 232. When receiving the selection of a receptionallowance icon 233 with the touch panel of the operating unit B105 (stepS327), the smartphone 302 transmits an image transmission allowanceresponse to the digital camera 301 via Bluetooth (registered trademark)(step S328). On the other hand, when receiving the selection of areception rejection icon 234, the smartphone 302 transmits an imagetransmission rejection response to the digital camera 301 via Bluetooth(registered trademark) and terminates the process in the presentsequence.

When the digital camera 301 receives the image transmission allowanceresponse transmitted from the smartphone 302, the digital camera 301 andthe smartphone 302 share the communication parameter necessary for awireless LAN connection with each other via Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) (step S329).

In next step S330, the digital camera 301 and the smartphone 302establish a wireless LAN connection based on the shared communicationparameter.

Next, in step S331, the digital camera 301 transmits the captured imageto the smartphone 302 via the wireless LAN.

After the completion of the image transmission in step S331, the digitalcamera 301 and the smartphone 302 disconnects the communication via thewireless LAN in step S332.

It is not necessary for the user to separately perform the operation forcapturing an image and the operation for the communication because thecommunication with the peripheral devices is started according to theimage capture as described above. Thus, the user can capture an imageand transmit the image with a seamless operational feeling. Furthermore,the search for the communication partner is performed at the timing ofthe image capture via Bluetooth (registered trademark) in the presentembodiment. This saves the user from having to previously establish acommunication with the communication partner before the image capture.Searching for the communication partner not via the wireless LAN but viaBluetooth (registered trademark) can further reduce the powerconsumption. In addition, a smooth image transmission can be implementedbecause the wireless LAN at a higher communication rate is used fortransmitting the image.

<Operation of Each Device>

First, the photographing process in the digital camera A100 performed inparallel to the start of the operation described above will bedescribed.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart describing the operation of the digital cameraA100 in an image capturing mode. The control unit A101 of the digitalcamera A100 controls each unit of the digital camera A100 according tothe input signal or a program. This implements the process described inthe present flowchart. The process of the flowchart in FIG. 16 isstarted together with the display of the live views that aresequentially captured once the instructions for starting the imagecapturing mode are received, for example, by the user operation.

First, in step S1601, the control unit A101 determines whether theoperating unit has received the instructions for switching the mode intoanother mode. When determining that the operating unit has received theinstructions for switching the mode into another mode, the control unitA101 terminates the process in the present flowchart. On the other hand,when the control unit A101 determines that the operating unit has notreceived the instructions for switching the mode into another mode, theprocess goes to step S1602.

Next, in step S1602, the control unit A101 determines whether the SW1 ofthe release switch is turned on. When the control unit A101 determinesthat the SW1 of the release switch is not ON, the process goes back tostep S1601. On the other hand, when the control unit A101 determinesthat the SW1 of the release switch is ON, the process goes to stepS1603.

In step S1603, the control unit A101 performs an image-pickuppreparation operation.

Next, in step S1604, the control unit A101 determines whether the SW2 isON. When the control unit A101 determines that the SW2 is not ON, theprocess goes back to step S1601. On the other hand, when the controlunit A101 determines that the SW2 is ON, the process goes to step S1605.

In step S1605, the control unit A101 performs an image capturingoperation to generate an image.

In next step S1606, the control unit A101 records the image generated instep S1604 in a recording medium. After that, the process goes back tostep S1601.

The flowchart describing the operation of the digital camera A100 in theimage capturing mode in the present embodiment has been described above.

Next, the operation of the digital camera for implementing the procedurein FIG. 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing the operation of the digital cameraA100 in the present embodiment. Note that the control unit A101 of thedigital camera A100 controls each unit of the digital camera A100according to the input signal or a program. This implements the processdescribed in the present flowchart. In absence of any description, theprocess in the flowchart describing the operation of the digital cameraA100 to be described below is implemented in the same manner asdescribed above. The process described in the flowchart in FIG. 4 isstarted, for example, when the control unit A101 detects the fact thatthe SW2 is ON in step S1604 in FIG. 16 while the functions of theBluetooth (registered trademark) and wireless LAN of the digital cameraA100 are valid. At that time, the process described in the flowchart inFIG. 4 is started in parallel to the processes in and after step S1605.

In step S401, the control unit A101 broadcasts a search request (namely,advertisement) to the peripheral devices through the short rangewireless communication unit A112. At that time, the control unit A101transmits the search request after adding the information capable ofuniquely specifying its own device (the device ID) to the searchrequest. The process in the present step corresponds to the process instep S321 in FIG. 3.

In step S402, the control unit A101 determines whether the control unithas received the search response through the short range wirelesscommunication unit A112. When the control unit A101 determines that thecontrol unit has not received the search response, the process in thepresent step is repeated to wait for the reception of the searchresponse. On the other hand, when the control unit A101 determines thatthe control unit has received the search response, the process goes tostep S403. The process in the present step corresponds to the process instep S322 in FIG. 3.

In step S403, the control unit A101 displays the transmissionconfirmation window 220 as illustrated in FIG. 2B on the displaying unitA106. In that case, the control unit A101 displays the image datagenerated in step S1605 in FIG. 16 performed in parallel. In addition,the control unit A101 controls the displaying unit A106 to display thedestination list 222 in the dialog box 221 based on the informationadded to the search response (for example, the device ID or the username set on the device). The process in the present step corresponds tothe process in step S323 in FIG. 3.

In step S404, the control unit A101 determines whether the operatingunit has received the operation for allowing the image transmissionthrough the touch panel of the operating unit A105. When the controlunit A101 determines that the transmission allowance icon 223 has beenselected while one or more devices that are the image destinations areselected from the destination list 222 through the touch panel of theoperating unit A105 for the image transmission, the process goes to stepS405. On the other hand, when the control unit A101 determines that thetransmission rejection icon 224 has been selected through the touchpanel of the operating unit A105, the process in the present flowchartis terminated.

Note that when none of the devices currently displayed in thedestination list 222 has been selected, the control unit A101 cancontrol the operating unit A105 and the displaying unit A106 to disablethe selection of the transmission allowance icon 223. For example, thetransmission allowance icon 223 is not displayed. Alternatively, thetransmission allowance icon 223 is displayed in a gray-out state suchthat the touch operation on the display area in the allowance icon 223is ignored.

In step S405, the control unit A101 transmits the image transmissionrequest to the device selected in step S404 through the short rangewireless communication unit A112. The control unit A101 transmits theimage transmission request after adding the reduced image of thecaptured image to the image transmission request. The process in thepresent step corresponds to the process in step S325 in FIG. 3.

In step S406, the control unit A101 determines whether the device thathas transmitted the image transmission request in step S405 has allowedthe image transmission.

When it is determined that the control unit has received the imagetransmission allowance response from the device through the short rangewireless communication unit A112, the process goes to step S407. On theother hand, when the control unit has received the image transmissionrejection response from the device through the short range wirelesscommunication unit A112, or when the control unit has not received theimage transmission allowance response in a predetermined period of time,the control unit A101 terminates the process in the present flowchart.

In step S407, the control unit A101 transmits and receives thecommunication parameter necessary for a wireless LAN communicationthrough the connection unit A111 with the device that is the imagedestination of which image transmission allowance response has beenreceived in step S406 through the short range wireless communicationunit A112. The process in the present step corresponds to the process instep S329 in FIG. 3.

In step S408, the control unit A101 establishes a wireless LANconnection with the image destination device through the connection unitA111 based on the communication parameter received in step S407. Theprocess in the present step corresponds to the process in step S330 inFIG. 3.

In step S409, the control unit A101 transmits the captured image to theimage destination device through the connection unit A111. The processin the present step corresponds to the process in step S331 in FIG. 3.

In step S410, the control unit A101 disconnects the communication withthe image destination device through the connection unit A111. Theprocess in the present step corresponds to the process in step S332 inFIG. 3.

The operation of the digital camera A100 in the present embodiment hasbeen described above.

Next, the operation of the smartphone for implementing the operationdescribed above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart describing the operation of the smartphone B100 inthe present embodiment. Note that the control unit B101 of thesmartphone B100 controls each unit of the smartphone B100 according tothe input signal or a program. This implements the process described inthe present flowchart. In absence of any description, the process in theflowchart describing the operation of the smartphone B100 to bedescribed below is implemented in the same manner as described above.

The process in the flowchart in FIG. 5 is started when the operation forallowing the reception of the search request is received through theoperating unit B105. Specifically, the function of the Bluetooth(registered trademark) and the function of the wireless LAN are set asvalid on the OS installed on the smartphone B100, for example, accordingto the menu operation from the user. This leads to a state in which thereception of a search request from an external device is waited. Theflowchart in FIG. 5 is started. In absence of any description, theprocess in the flowchart describing the operation of the smartphone B100to be described below is implemented in the same manner as describedabove.

In step S501, the control unit B101 determines whether the control unithas received a search request through the short range wirelesscommunication unit B112. When the control unit B101 determines that thecontrol unit has not received a search request, the process in thepresent step is repeated to wait for a reception of the search request.On the other hand, when the control unit B101 determines that thecontrol unit has received the search request, the process goes to stepS502.

In step S502, the control unit B101 transmits a search response throughthe short range wireless communication unit B112 to the device that hastransmitted the search request. At that time, the control unit B101specifies the device that is the image source based on the device IDincluded in the search request. The control unit B101 further transmitsthe search response after adding the information indicating its owndevice (for example, the device ID or the user name set on the device)to the search response. The process in the present step corresponds tothe process in step S322 in FIG. 3.

In step S503, the control unit B101 determines whether the control unithas received the image transmission request from the image source devicethrough the short range wireless communication unit B112. When thecontrol unit B101 determines that the control unit has not received theimage transmission request, the process in the present step is repeatedto wait for the reception of the image transmission request. On theother hand, when the control unit B101 determines that the control unithas received the image transmission request, the process goes to stepS504.

In step S504, the control unit B101 displays the image receptionconfirmation window 230 as illustrated in FIG. 2B on the displaying unitB106. The control unit B101 controls the displaying unit B106 to displaythe reduced image 232 added to the image transmission request in stepS325 in the dialog box 231. The process in the present step correspondsto the process in step S326 in FIG. 3.

In step S505, the control unit B101 determines whether the operatingunit has received the operation for allowing the image reception throughthe touch panel of the operating unit B105. When the control unit B101determines that the operating unit has received the selection of thereception rejection icon 234, the process goes to step S511. In stepS511, the control unit B101 transmits the image transmission rejectionresponse to the image source device through the short range wirelesscommunication unit B112. After that the process is terminated.

On the other hand, the control unit B101 determines that the operatingunit has received the selection of the reception allowance icon 233through the touch panel of the operating unit B105, the process goes tostep S506.

In step S506, the control unit B101 transmits the image transmissionallowance response to the image source device through the short rangewireless communication unit B112. The process in the present stepcorresponds to the process in step S328 in FIG. 3.

In step S507, the control unit B101 transmits and receives thecommunication parameter necessary for a wireless LAN communicationthrough the connection unit B111 with the image source device throughthe short range wireless communication unit B112. The process in thepresent step corresponds to the process in step S329 in FIG. 3.

In step S508, the control unit B101 establishes a wireless LANconnection with the image source device through the connection unit B111based on the communication parameter received in step S507. The processin the present step corresponds to the process in step S330 in FIG. 3.

In step S509, the control unit B101 receives the captured image from theimage source device through the connection unit B111.

In step S510, the control unit B101 disconnects the communication withthe image source device through the connection unit B111. The process inthe present step corresponds to the process in step S332 in FIG. 3.

The operation of the smartphone B100 in the present embodiment has beendescribed above.

Note that the digital camera A100 in the present embodiment displays thescreen for confirming the image transmission after waiting for thereception of the search response. In light of that, if the image captureis completed before the search response, the REC review window of thecaptured image can be displayed. In that case, the dialog is popped upon the background of the display of the REC review in response to thereception of the search response. In other words, in absence of thesearch response, the user captures the next image after checking the RECreview without checking the dialog.

In the present embodiment, the case in which turning the SW2 on triggersthe start of the search for the peripheral device using Bluetooth(registered trademark) has been described as an example. Any operationrelating to the photographing process can be the trigger even at anothertiming. For example, turning the SW1 on can trigger the start of thesearch for the peripheral device using Bluetooth (registered trademark).In that case, the search for the peripheral device using Bluetooth(registered trademark) is started, for example, in response to thedetection of the fact that the SW1 is turned on in step S1602 in FIG.16. Then, the search response to the search request is received on thebackground. After that, when the SW2 is turned on and the photographingprocess is performed, the screen of the transmission confirmation isdisplayed while working as the REC review of the image obtained in thephotographing process. Note that when the SW2 is not turned on and theSW1 is turned off after the SW1 has been turned on, the search responsethat has been received until then is discarded. In other words, on thetransmission confirmation window of the image obtained in thephotographing process executed after the SW2 has been turned on, onlythe device responds to the search request of which transmission has beentriggered by the fact that the SW1 has been turned on is displayed onthe destination list.

In addition to the operation in the present embodiment, the process forperiodically transmitting a search request using Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) can be started in response to the fact that the SW1 or SW2 isturned on. In other words, the process for periodically executing theprocess in step S401 in FIG. 4 is started in response to the detectionof the fact that the SW1 is ON in step S1602 in FIG. 16, or the factthat the SW2 is ON in step S1604 in FIG. 16. This is because there is apossibility that another device newly enters the range in which thecamera can communicate the device while the selection of the destinationby the user is waited on the transmission confirmation window. In thatcase, the user name included in the response newly received is added anddisplayed in the currently-displayed destination list in response to thereception of the search response during the display of the destinationlist. Note that the periodic execution of the process in step S401 isstopped, for example, when it is determined in step S404 in FIG. 4 thatthe operation for allowing the image transmission has been received.

When the release switch is pressed during the display of thetransmission confirmation window and the SW1 or SW2 is turned on fromoff, all of the processes in the flowchart in FIG. 4 are cancelled so asto capture the next image. In other words, the processes are restartedfrom step S401 in the flowchart in FIG. 4. This can reduce thepossibility that a photo opportunity is missed. Note that, if the factthat the SW1 or SW2 is turned on is detected while the selection of thedestination is completed, a transmission request can automatically betransmitted to the destination while the process goes to a process forcapturing the next image.

As described above, the digital camera A100 in the present embodimentstarts the search for the peripheral devices using Bluetooth (registeredtrademark) in wake of receiving the shooting instruction. This can omitthe operation in which the user consciously instructs the search.

Second Embodiment Schematic System

In the first embodiment, the case in which the digital camera starts thesearch for the peripheral devices using Bluetooth (registered trademark)in wake of receiving the shooting instruction and the image transmissiondestination device is selected by the user operation has been describedas an example.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the case in which theimage destination device is automatically determined according to thecaptured image will be described. When the destination is identified bythe determination, the image is automatically transmitted. On the otherhand, when the destination is unknown, device registration is performedto automatically determine the destination in addition to the processdescribed in the first embodiment. Note that the present embodiment hasmany points in common with the first embodiment. Thus, unique points tothe present embodiment will mainly be described.

The communication system in the present embodiment will schematically bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 6 are exemplary GUIs displayed on the digital camera and thesmartphone in order to implement the communication system in the presentembodiment. FIGS. 6A to 6C are displayed on the displaying unit A106 ofthe digital camera A100. FIGS. 6D and 6E are displayed on the displayingunit B106 of the smartphone B100. Note that the same contents as in FIG.2 are marked with the same reference signs and the descriptions will beomitted.

FIG. 7 is exemplary information that is to be referred to when thedigital camera A100 automatically determines the image destinationdevice. The correspondence relationship between a device ID 701 of thedestination device of the captured image and the object information 702included in the captured image is recorded in the image destinationcorrespondence table 700. The image destination correspondence table 700is stored in the nonvolatile memory A103.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the sequence of the flow of the processes fromthe device search to the image transmission and the registration of theimage destination device in the communication system according to thepresent embodiment. Note that the same contents as in FIG. 3 are markedwith the same reference signs and the descriptions will be omitted.

The digital camera 301 starts the sequence in FIG. 8 with thephotographing process when the release button of the operating unit A105is pressed and the SW2 is turned on.

First, in step S801, the digital camera 301 specifies the imagedestination device based on the object on the image generated in thephotographing process. Specifically, analyzing the image generated inthe photographing process recognizes the object included in the image.Then, the image destination device is determined with reference to theinformation about the object recognized from the image and an imagedestination correspondence table 700. For example, when the objects“Emily” and “Anna” are recognized on the captured image by the humanfigure authentication while the image is captured, the digital camera301 specifies the device ID of the image destination device as“PHONE_(—)001” from the image destination correspondence table 700.Alternatively, when an object is not recognized or when the recognizedobject has not been registered (in other words, when the informationabout the recognized object is not recorded in the image destinationcorrespondent table), the digital camera 301 determines that the imagedestination device is unknown.

Note that, instead of the analysis of the image generated in thephotographing process, the result from the object recognition that isappropriately performed on the display of the live-view image can beused. In that case, the information about the object recognized at thetime when the SW2 is turned on is used. This can specify the imagedestination device without waiting for the generation of the image inthe photographing process, and thus can progress the process smoothly.

When the image destination device is identified in step S801, thesequence goes to the sequence 851. When it is determined that the imagedestination device is unknown, the sequence goes to the sequence 852.

First, the case in which the image destination device is identified(when the sequence goes to the sequence 851) will be described. The casein which the device that has been determined as the destination is thesmartphone 302 will be described as an example.

In step S802, the digital camera 301 transmits a designated searchrequest to the smartphone 302 via Bluetooth (registered trademark). Inother words, the digital camera 301 does not broadcast the searchrequest but unicasts the search request to the smartphone 302. Notethat, if a plurality of devices is specified as the destinations, thedesignated search request is transmitted to each of the smartphones viamulticast. In that case, the digital camera 301 transmits the searchrequest after adding the information capable of uniquely specifying itsown device (the device ID) to the search request.

When receiving the designated search request, the smartphone 302determines in step S803 whether the device ID added to the request hasbeen registered. The smartphone 302 refers to the registered device IDlist (not illustrated in the drawings) stored in the nonvolatile memoryB103. When the device ID added to the designated search request isincluded in the list, the smartphone 302 determines that the device IDhas been registered. When the device ID added to the designated searchrequest is not included in the list, the smartphone 302 determines thatthe device ID has not been registered.

When it is determined that the device ID has been registered, thesmartphone 302 transmits the search response to the digital camera 301via Bluetooth (registered trademark) in step S322. On the other hand,when the device ID has not been registered, the smartphone 302terminates the process for the image transmission.

After step S322, the digital camera 301 and the smartphone 302 performthe processes for transmitting the captured image in steps S329 to S332.

Next, the case in which the image destination device is unknown as theresult of step S801 (when the sequence goes to the sequence 852) will bedescribed.

The digital camera 301 and the smartphones 302 and 303 perform theprocesses for transmitting the image in steps S321 to S332, similarly toin FIG. 3. In other words, the image transmission process is performedin the same process as the first embodiment. Note that in the presentembodiment, the case in which the image source is the digital camera 301and the image destination is the smartphone 302 will be described as anexample.

In the present embodiment, after step S332, namely, after the completionof the image transmission process, the process for registering thedevices that have performed the current communication.

In other words, in step S804, the digital camera 301 displays a deviceregistration window 610 illustrated in FIG. 6C on the displaying unitA106. The digital camera 301 superimposes and displays a dialog box 611for registering the image destination device in addition to thetransmitted image in the device registration window 610. The digitalcamera 301 displays destination device information 612, a registrationallowance icon 613, and a registration rejection icon 614 in the dialogbox 611.

When the registration allowance icon 613 is selected by the touch paneloperation of the operating unit A105 (step S805), the digital camera 301transmits the device registration request to the smartphone 302 viaBluetooth (registered trademark) (step S806). On the other hand, whenthe registration rejection icon 614 is selected, the digital camera 301terminates the process for registering the image destination device toreturn to the live-view screen 210.

When receiving the device registration request, the smartphone 302displays the device registration window 620 as illustrated in FIG. 6E onthe displaying unit B106 in step S807. The smartphone 302 superimposesand displays a dialog box 621 for registering the image source device inthe device registration window 620. The smartphone 302 displaystransmission source device information 622, a registration allowanceicon 623, and a registration rejection icon 624 in the dialog box 621.

When the registration allowance icon 623 is selected by the touch paneloperation of the operating unit B105 (step S808), the smartphone 302transmits a device registration allowance response to the digital camera301 via Bluetooth (registered trademark) (step S809). On the other hand,when the registration rejection icon 624 is selected, the smartphone 302transmits a device registration rejection response to the digital camera301 via Bluetooth (registered trademark) to terminate the process forregistering the image source device.

After transmitting the device registration allowance response, thesmartphone 302 registers the digital camera 301. Specifically, thesmartphone 302 additionally records the device ID of the digital camera301 in the registered device ID list (not illustrated in the drawings).

After receiving the device registration allowance response, the digitalcamera 301 registers the smartphone 302 in step S811. Specifically, thedigital camera 301 additionally records the device ID of the smartphone302 and the object information included in the captured image in theimage destination correspondence table 700.

<Operation of Each Device>

Next, the operation of the digital camera for implementing the operationdescribed above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart describing the process of the digital camera A100in the present embodiment.

First, in step S900, analyzing the image generated in the photographingprocess recognizes the object. Note that, when the object recognitionhas been completed at the timing of the display of the live-view imageand the recognition result is used as described above, the present stepis not performed.

In step S901, the control unit A101 determines the image destinationdevice with reference to the information about the recognized object andthe image destination correspondence table 700. The processes in stepS900 and step S901 correspond to the process in step S801 in FIG. 8.

First, the case in which the image destination device is determined instep S901 will be described. In that case, the process goes to stepS902.

In step S902, the control unit A101 transmits a designated searchrequest through the short range wireless communication unit A112 to theimage destination device determined in step S901. The process in stepS902 corresponds to the process in step S802 in FIG. 8.

In step S903, the control unit A101 determines whether the control unithas received the search response from the image destination devicethrough the short range wireless communication unit A112. The controlunit A101 determines that the control unit has not received the searchresponse, the process in the present step is repeated to wait for asearch response. On the other hand, when the control unit A101determines that the control unit has received the search response, theprocess goes to step S921.

In step S921 to step S924, the same processes as in step S407 to stepS410 in FIG. 4 are performed.

The case in which the image destination device is specified in step S901has been described above.

Next, the case in which the image destination device is not specified instep S901 will be described. In that case, the process goes to stepS911.

In step S911 to step S920, the same processes as in step S401 to stepS410 in FIG. 4 are performed. When the process in step S920 iscompleted, the process goes to step S904.

In step S904, the control unit A101 displays the device registrationwindow 610 illustrated in FIG. 6C on the displaying unit A106. Thecontrol unit A101 controls the displaying unit A106 to superimpose anddisplay the dialog box 611 for registering the image destination devicetogether with the captured image in the device registration window 610.The control unit A101 controls the displaying unit A106 to display thedestination device information 612, the registration allowance icon 613,and the registration rejection icon 614 in the dialog box 611.

In step S905, the control unit A101 determines whether the operatingunit has received the operation for registering the image destinationdevice with the touch panel of the operating unit A105. When the controlunit A101 determines that the operating unit has received the operationfor selecting the registration allowance icon 613, the process goes tostep S906. When the control unit A101 determines that the operating unithas received the operation for selecting the registration rejection icon614, the process in the present flowchart is terminated.

In step S906, the control unit A101 transmits the device registrationrequest to the image destination device through the short range wirelesscommunication unit A112. The process in the present step corresponds tothe process in step S806 in FIG. 8.

In step S907, the control unit A101 determines whether the operation forallowing the device registration has been performed in the imagedestination device. Specifically, the control unit A101 determines, byreceiving the device registration allowance response from the imagedestination device, that the operation for allowing the deviceregistration has been performed in the image destination device.

When the control unit A101 determines that the control unit has receivedthe device registration allowance response from the image destinationdevice through the short range wireless communication unit A112, theprocess goes to step S908. On the other hand, when the control unit A101determines that the control unit has received the device registrationrejection response from the image destination device through the shortrange wireless communication unit A112, or when the control unit has notreceived the device registration allowance response in a predeterminedperiod of time, the control unit A101 terminates the process in thepresent flowchart.

In step S908, the control unit A101 controls the nonvolatile memory A103to additionally record the device ID of the image destination device andthe object information included in the captured image in the imagedestination correspondence table 700. The information additionallyrecorded at that time is used for specifying the image destination atthe next time.

The operation of the digital camera A100 in the present embodiment hasbeen described above.

Next, the operation of the smartphone for implementing the operationdescribed above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart describing the process of the smartphone B100 inthe present embodiment.

In step S1001, the control unit B101 determines whether the control unithas received the search request or the designated search request throughthe short range wireless communication unit B112. When the control unitB101 determines that the control unit has not received the designatedsearch request, the process in the present step is repeated to wait forthe reception of the search request or the designated search request.When the control unit B101 determines that the control unit has receivedthe search request or the designated search request, the process goes tostep S1002.

In step S1002, the control unit B101 determines whether the requestreceived in step S1001 is a request of which destination has beendesignated. In other words, the control unit B101 determines whether therequest is the designated search request.

First, the case in which the control unit B101 determines that therequest received in step S1001 is the designated search request will bedescribed. In that case, the process goes to step S1003.

In step S1003, the control unit B101 determines whether the device IDadded to the designated search request received in step S1001 has beenregistered. The control unit B101 refers to the registered device IDlist (not illustrated in the drawings) stored in the nonvolatile memoryB103. When the device ID added to the designated search request isincluded in the list, the control unit B101 determines that the deviceID has been registered. When the device ID added to the designatedsearch request is not included in the list, the control unit B101determines that the device ID has not been registered. When the deviceID has been registered, the control unit B101 moves the process to stepS1032. When the device ID has not been registered, the control unit B101terminates the process for transmitting the image.

In step S1022, the same process as in step S502 in FIG. 5 is performed.In the next step S1027 to step S1030, the same processes as in step S507to step S510 in FIG. 5 are performed.

The case in which it is determined in step S1002 that the requestreceived in step S1001 is a designated search request has been describedabove.

Next, the case in which the control unit B101 determines in step S1002that the request received in step S1001 is a search request will bedescribed. In that case, the process goes to step S1012.

In step S1012 to step S1020, the same processes as in step S502 to stepS510 in FIG. 5 are performed. After the completion of the process instep S1020, the process goes to step S1004.

In step S1004, the control unit B101 determines whether the control unithas received the device registration request in step S806 from the imagesource device through the short range wireless communication unit B112.When receiving the request described above in a predetermined period oftime, the control unit B101 moves the process to step S1005. When notreceiving the request described above in a predetermined period of time,the control unit B101 terminates the process for the deviceregistration.

In step S1005, the control unit B101 displays the device registrationwindow 620 as illustrated in FIG. 6E on the displaying unit B106. Thecontrol unit B101 controls the displaying unit B106 to superimpose anddisplay the dialog box 621 for registering the image source device inthe device registration window 620. The control unit B101 controls thedisplaying unit B106 to display the transmission source deviceinformation 622, the registration allowance icon 623, and theregistration rejection icon 624 in the dialog box 621.

In step S1006, the control unit B101 determines whether the operationfor allowing the device registration by the touch panel operation of theoperating unit B105 has been performed.

When the control unit B101 determines that the registration rejectionicon 624 has been selected, the process goes to step S1009. The controlunit B101 transmits the device registration rejection response to theimage source device and terminates the process in the present flowchart.

On the other hand, when the control unit B101 determines that theregistration allowance icon 623 has been selected, the process goes tostep S1007.

In step S1007, the control unit B101 transmits the device registrationallowance response in step S809 to the image source device through theshort range wireless communication unit B112.

In the next step S1008, the control unit B101 controls the nonvolatilememory B103 to additionally record the device ID of the image sourcedevice in the registered device ID list (not illustrated in thedrawings). After that, the process in the present flowchart isterminated.

The operation of the smartphone B100 in the present embodiment has beendescribed above.

As described above, the digital camera A100 in the present embodimentautomatically determines the image destination device according to thecaptured image. This can save the user from having to select consciouslythe image destination device.

Note that the case in which, when recognizing the object specifies theimage destination device (in other words, when the sequence goes to thesequence 851 in FIG. 8), the image is automatically transmitted withoutthe confirmation as the transmission confirmation window 220 in FIG. 6Bin the present embodiment has been described as an example. In light ofthat, for example, even when the destination device is specified, theperipheral device can be searched for as described in the sequence 852such that the device specified as the destination is preferentiallydisplayed from the searched devices. The device specified as thedestination is displayed in a mode in which the device can bedistinguished from the other devices, for example, a mode in which thecolor of the background of the device differs from those of the otherdevices, a mode in which the device is surrounded with a specific frame,or a mode in which the device has been selected. When many devices havebeen detected, there is a possibility that the destination list 222 isnot fitted to the dialog box 221. In such a case, the destination listis preferably scrolled from side to side such that the detected devicescan be recognized. In such a case, the list is displayed such that thedevice specified as the destination can be shown without scrolling so asto display the device in priority to the other devices. There is still apossibility that the devices specified as the destinations are notfitted to the dialog box 221. In such a case, displaying the devices inascending order of the amount of scrolling operation required to displaythe device specified as the destination can display the device inpriority to the other devices.

Third Embodiment Schematic System

In the second embodiment, the case in which the image destination deviceis automatically determined according to the captured image has beendescribed. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the case inwhich the image destination device is automatically determined accordingto the setting of the image capture and the change of the setting of theimage capture triggers the search for the image destination device willbe described. When the transmission destination has been identified fromthe determination, the image is automatically transmitted. On the otherhand, when the destination is unknown, the device registration forautomatically determining the destination is performed, similarly to thesecond embodiment. In the present embodiment, the record size of thecaptured image will be described as an example of the image capturesetting. Note that the present embodiment has many points in common withthe first and second embodiments. Thus, unique points to the presentembodiment will mainly be described.

The communication system in the present embodiment will schematically bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13.

FIG. 11 are exemplary GUIs displayed on the digital camera and thesmartphone in order to implement the communication system in the presentembodiment. FIGS. 11A and 11B are displayed on the displaying unit A106of the digital camera A100. FIG. 11C is displayed on the displaying unitB106 of the smartphone B100. Note that the same contents as in FIG. 2are marked with the same reference signs and the descriptions will beomitted.

FIG. 12 is exemplary information that is to be referred to when thedigital camera A100 automatically determines the image destinationdevice. The correspondence relationship between a device ID 1201 of thedestination device of the captured image and the record size 1202 of thecaptured image is recorded in an image destination correspondence table1200. The image destination correspondence table 1200 is stored in thenonvolatile memory A103.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of the sequence of the flow of the processes fromthe device search to the image transmission and the registration of theimage destination device in the communication system according to thepresent embodiment.

When the operating unit A105 receives the menu operation intended forchanging the record size of the captured image, the digital camera 301displays a record size change screen 1110 as illustrated in FIG. 11A onthe displaying unit A106. The digital camera 301 displays a size changeicon 1111 in the record size change screen 1110.

When one of the size change icons 1111 has been selected by a touchpanel operation of the operating unit A105, the digital camera 301starts the sequence in FIG. 13.

The digital camera 301 determines the image destination device withreference to the changed record size and the image destinationcorrespondence table 1200 (step S1301). For example, when the recordsize is set at “M”, the digital camera 301 determines the device ID ofthe image destination device as “PHONE_(—)001” from the imagedestination correspondence table 1200.

When the image destination device is determined as the result from theprocess in step S1301, the sequence goes to the sequence 1351. When theimage destination device is unknown, the sequence goes to the sequence1352.

The case in which the image destination device is identified (when thesequence goes to the sequence 1351) will be described first with anexample in which the device determined as the destination is thesmartphone 302.

The process in each device in such a case is the same as the process inthe case in which the destination has been determined as described inFIG. 8. In other words, the digital camera 301 and the smartphone 302perform the device search process in steps S802, S803, and S322.

The case in which the sequence goes to the sequence 1351 has beendescribed above.

Next, the case in which the image destination device is unknown as theresult from the process in step S1301 (when the sequence goes to thesequence 1352) will be described.

The digital camera 301 and the smartphones 302 and 303 perform thedevice search process in steps S321 and S322, similarly to in FIG. 3.

After the completion of the process in step S322, the digital camera 301displays a device registration confirmation screen 1120 as illustratedin FIG. 11B on the displaying unit A106 (step S1302). The digital camera301 displays a dialog box 1121 for registering the image destinationdevice in the device registration confirmation screen 1120. The digitalcamera 301 displays the destination list 1122, a registration allowanceicon 1123, and a registration rejection icon 1124 in the dialog box1121. The destination list 1122 is displayed based on the informationadded to the search response.

When the registration allowance icon 1123 is selected while theoperating unit A105 selects one or more registered devices from thedestination list 1122 (step S1303), the digital camera 301 transmits thedevice registration request to the selected devices via Bluetooth(registered trademark). On the other hand, when the registrationrejection icon 1124 is selected by the touch panel operation of theoperating unit A105, the digital camera 301 terminates the deviceregistration process.

Note that, in the present embodiment, the case in which the smartphone302 is selected as the registered device will be described as anexample.

After step S806, the digital camera 301 and the smartphone 302 performthe device registration process in steps S807 to S811.

The case in which the sequence goes to the sequence 1352 has beendescribed above.

When the SW2 of the digital camera A100 is turned on after the sequence1351 and the sequence 1352 (step S1304), the digital camera 301transmits the image transmission request to the smartphone 302 viaBluetooth (registered trademark) (step S1305).

After step S1305, the digital camera 301 and the smartphone 302 performthe image transmission process in steps S328 to S332, similarly to inFIG. 3.

<Operation of Each Device>

Next, the operation of the digital camera for implementing the operationdescribed above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart describing the process of the digital camera A100in the present embodiment.

When one of the size change icons 1111 is selected by the touch paneloperation of the operating unit A105, the control unit A101 starts theflowchart in FIG. 14.

First, in step S1401, the control unit A101 determines the imagedestination device with reference to the changed record size and theimage destination correspondence table 1200. The process in step S1401corresponds to the process in step S1301 in FIG. 13.

When the destination device is determined in step S1401, the processgoes to step S1402. The same processes as in steps S902 and S903 in FIG.9 are performed in steps S1402 and S1403. After that, the process goesto step S1411.

On the other hand, when the destination device is not determined in stepS1401, the process goes to step S1404. The same processes in steps S911and S912 in FIG. 9 are performed in steps S1404 and S1405.

Next, in step S1406, the control unit A101 displays the deviceregistration confirmation screen 1120 as illustrated in FIG. 11B on thedisplaying unit A106. The control unit A101 controls the displaying unitA106 to display the dialog box 1121 for registering the imagedestination device in the device registration confirmation screen 1120.The control unit A101 controls the displaying unit A106 to display thedestination list 1122, the registration allowance icon 1123, and theregistration rejection icon 1124 in the dialog box 1121. The destinationlist 1122 is displayed based on the information added to the searchresponse.

In step S1406, the control unit A101 determines whether the operatingunit A105 has performed the operation for allowing the image destinationdevice registration. When one or more registered devices are selectedfrom the destination list 1122 and the registration allowance icon 1123is further selected by the touch panel operation of the operating unitA105, the control unit A101 moves the process to step S1407. On theother hand, when the registration rejection icon 1124 is selected by thetouch panel operation of the operating unit A105, the control unit A101terminates the process in the present flowchart.

The same processes as in steps S906 to S908 in FIG. 9 are performed insteps S1407 to S1410. After that, the process goes to step S1411.

In step S1411, the control unit A101 determines whether the operatingunit has received a shooting instruction. Specifically, the control unitA101 determines whether the release switch of the operating unit A105 ispressed and the SW2 is turned on. The control unit A101 determines thatthe shooting instruction has been received when the fact that the SW2 ofthe operating unit A105 is turned on has been detected.

When it is determined in step S1411 that the operating unit has notreceived the shooting instruction, the process in the present step isrepeated to wait for a shooting instruction. On the other hand, when itis determined that the operating unit has received the shootinginstruction, the process goes to step S1412.

In step S1412, the control unit A101 transmits the image transmissionrequest to the image destination device through the short range wirelesscommunication unit A112. After that, the process goes to step S1413.

The same processes as in steps S916 to S920 in FIG. 9 are performed insteps S1413 to S1417.

The operation of the digital camera A100 in the present embodiment hasbeen described above.

Next, the operation of the smartphone for implementing the operationdescribed above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 15.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart describing the process of the smartphone B100 inthe present embodiment.

The same processes as in steps S1001 to S1003 in FIG. 10 are performedin steps S1501 to S1503. The same process as in step S1022 in FIG. 10 isperformed in step S1510.

When it is determined in step S1502 that the request is a request ofwhich destination has been designated, the process goes to step S1504.

The same processes as in steps S1004 to S1009 in FIG. 10 are performedin steps S1504 to S1509.

When the process in step S1510 or step S1509 is completed, the processgoes to step S1511.

The same process as in step S1013 in FIG. 10 is performed in step S1511.When it is Yes in step S1511, the process goes to step S1512.

The same processes as in steps S1016 to S1020 in FIG. 10 are performedin steps S1512 to S1516.

The process of the smartphone B100 in the present embodiment has beendescribed above.

As described above, the digital camera A100 in the present embodimentautomatically determines the image destination device according to theimage capture settings. The change of the image capture settingstriggers the execution of the device search. This can save the user fromhaving to consciously select the image destination device.

Fourth Embodiment

In the embodiment described above, the case in which a still image isgenerated according to a shooting instruction has been described as anexample. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the case in whichthe digital camera includes a consecutive shooting mode in which aplurality of still images is generated according to a shootinginstruction will be described as an example.

Note that the present embodiment has many points in common with thefirst to third embodiments. Thus, unique points to the presentembodiment will mainly be described.

The digital camera A100 in the present embodiment includes a consecutiveshooting mode in which images are captured at given intervals of timewhile the SW2 is ON after the SW2 has been turned on. In the descriptionbelow, relative to the consecutive shooting mode, a mode in which animage is generated once the SW2 has been turned on is referred to as asingle shooting mode. The modes can be switched according to the useroperation of the operating unit A105.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart describing of the operation of the digital cameraA100 in the present embodiment. The present flowchart is started whenthe mode is switched to the consecutive shooting mode, for example, bythe user operation.

The same processes as in steps S1601 to S1606 in FIG. 16 are performedin steps S1701 to S1706.

When the process in step S1606 is completed, the process goes to stepS1607. Note that, if enough free space can be secured in the workingmemory A104 configured to temporarily store the image generated in stepS1605, the processes in and after step S1607 can be performed inparallel to the process in step S1606 at the time of the completion ofthe process in step S1605.

In step S1607, the control unit A101 determines whether the SW2 is keptON. When the control unit A101 determines that the SW2 is kept ON, theprocesses in steps S1705 to S1707 are repeated to capture the second andsubsequent images. On the other hand, when the control unit A101determines that the SW2 is OFF, the loop in steps S1705 to S1707 isterminated (in other words, the consecutive shooting is stopped) and theprocess goes back to step S1701.

The operation of the digital camera A100 in the consecutive shootingmode in the present embodiment has been described above.

Next, the timings of the starts of the destination device search processand the image transmission process in the present embodiment will bedescribed. The destination device search process and image transmissionprocess in the present embodiment are the same as in the firstembodiment. It is the timings to start the processes in the presentembodiment that is different from the first embodiment. In the presentembodiment, the result from the determination in step S1707 is used asthe trigger for the start of the flowchart in FIG. 4. In other words,the flowchart in FIG. 4 is not started not when the SW2 is turned on butwhen the SW2 is turned off from on. This is because there is a givenperiod of time between the timing when the SW2 is turned on and thetiming when the SW2 is turned off in the consecutive shooting mode.Thus, there is a possibility that the device that has existed in therange of communication via Bluetooth (registered trademark) at thetiming when the SW2 has been turned on moves out of the communicationrange at the timing when the SW2 is turned off. In light of theforegoing, not the timing when the SW2 is turned on but the timing whenthe SW2 is turned off from on (namely, the timing of the completion ofthe consecutive shooting) is used as the trigger for the start of theflowchart in FIG. 4 in the present embodiment. Note that, in such acase, a series of images obtained in a consecutive shooting process iscollectively transmitted in the flowchart in FIG. 4. In other words, aplurality of thumbnails of the images is transmitted in step S405. Instep S409, a plurality of the main images is transmitted.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

In the embodiments described above, the case in which a still image isgenerated in response to a shooting instruction has been described as anexample. In addition to the embodiments, the digital camera can beconfigured to include a function to generate a moving image in responseto a shooting instruction. Generally, separately from the releaseswitch, a switch to give the instructions for capturing a moving imageis provided on the digital camera such that the user can instruct thestart of the photographing process for generating a moving image bypressing the switch. Then, the user can input the instructions tocomplete the photographing process for generating a moving image bypressing the switch again during the photographing process forgenerating a moving image. By the way, similarly to the case of theconsecutive shooting, there is a given period of time between the timingof the start of the image capture and the timing of the completion inthe case of the moving image capturing. Thus, similarly to theconsecutive shooting, the timing of the completion of the image captureis used as the trigger for the start of the flowchart in FIG. 4 in themoving image capturing. This enables the start of the flowchart in FIG.4 at an appropriate timing.

In addition to the embodiments described above, the digital camera A100can be connected to the smartphone B100 via the wireless LAN so as toinclude a remote image capturing mode to receive the instructions forremote manipulation from the smartphone B100. In that case, the shootinginstruction is input from the smartphone B100 to the digital camera A100via a wireless LAN according to the operation of GUI of the smartphoneB100 instead of the input on the digital camera A100. At that time, inconsideration of the communication load, the process for transmitting asearch request to the peripheral devices can be prevented because thedigital camera has already been connected to the smartphone B100. On theother hand, when the shooting instruction is input from the smartphoneB100, the digital camera A100 can transmit a search request to beconnected to the smartphones other than the smartphone B100 in parallel.In that case, the smartphone B100 does not sends the search responseback to the digital camera A100. This is because a digital cameragenerally has the configuration in which the image data captured by thedigital camera A100 according to the remote shooting instruction fromthe smartphone B100 is transmitted to the smartphone B100 via a wirelessLAN in the remote image capturing mode. In other word, it is notnecessary in the relationship between the smartphone B100 and thedigital camera A100 to perform the process in the embodiments describedabove. The destination list displayed as the result from the fact thatthe digital camera A100 has received the search response from anothersmartphone is transmitted to the smartphone B100 side via the wirelessLAN such that the user of the smartphone B100 can select thedestination. The information about the destination selected in thesmartphone B100 is transmitted to the digital camera A100. This causesthe digital camera A100 to perform the process for the connection to theother smartphone in parallel to the image transmission process.

In addition to the embodiments described above, the digital camera A100can have a mode referred to as an interval shooting mode in which imagesare captured at predetermined intervals of time. Generally, in theinterval shooting, the user often leaves the digital camera A100 and isaway from the digital camera. In other words, even if the destinationlist is displayed at the timing when an image is captured, there is ahigh possibility that the user cannot select the destination. In lightof the foregoing, a search response is not transmitted even at thetiming when an image is captured in the interval shooting mode.

In the second embodiment, the example in which the image destination isspecified based on the result of the recognition of the object in thecaptured image has been described. In light of that, for example, thedigital camera can have a configuration to determine the imagedestination according to the type or the format (a moving image or astill image) of the content of the captured image.

In the third embodiment, the example in which the image destination isspecified based on the record size of the captured image. However, theimage destination can be specified according to another imagingparameter.

Even if both of the functions of Bluetooth (registered trademark) andthe wireless LAN are valid, the user sometimes does not want to shareimages with others. In light of the foregoing, in addition to theembodiments described above, the user can set whether to use thefunction for transmitting an advertisement with the image capturing orthe change of the settings by the user operation.

In the embodiments described above, every time a condition is satisfied,the communication parameter for the wireless LAN is shared via Bluetooth(registered trademark). In light of that, once a communication parameterfor the wireless LAN is shared, it is efficient that the communicationparameter is continuously used for other communications. In light of theforegoing, for example, when the condition under which a search requestis broadcasted again is satisfied in a given period of time since thecommunication parameter has been shared, the wireless LAN connection isperformed using the shared parameter. Note that it is not realistic inlight of the energy consumption to keep both of the devices constantlyconnected to each other via the wireless LAN. Thus, the broadcast of thesearch request is used not for sharing the parameter but for controllingthe timing of the connection via the wireless LAN.

The above-described exemplary embodiments can more readily and flexiblyimplement a series of processes from the image capture to the imagetransmission.

Additional embodiments can also be realized by a computer of a system orapparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructionsrecorded on a storage medium (e.g., computer-readable storage medium) toperform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the systemor apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computerexecutable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functionsof one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer maycomprise one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), microprocessing unit (MPU), or other circuitry, and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate computer processors. The computerexecutable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example,from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include,for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), aread only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, anoptical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD),or Blu-ray Disc (BD™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and thelike.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that these exemplaryembodiments are not seen to be limiting. The scope of the followingclaims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompassall such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2013-223527, filed Oct. 28, 2013, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image device connected to an external devicevia a first communication interface and a second communication interfacedifferent from the first communication interface, the image devicecomprising: an image capturing unit configured to capture an image inresponse to a shooting instruction; a sharing unit configured to share acommunication parameter used for connecting the image device to theexternal device via the first communication interface with the externaldevice via the second communication interface with the external device;a connection unit configured to connect the image device to the externaldevice via the first communication interface using the communicationparameter shared using the sharing unit; and a control unit configuredto control the sharing unit to start a process for sharing thecommunication parameter with the external device using the secondcommunication interface according to the shooting instruction.
 2. Theimage device according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmittingunit configured to transmit an image captured with the image capturingunit to the external device via the first communication interface inresponse to the connection to the external device via the firstcommunication interface.
 3. The image device according to claim 1,wherein the control unit starts the sharing after a completion of theimage capturing.
 4. The image device according to claim 3, wherein, whenimages are consecutively captured, the control unit starts the sharingafter a completion of the consecutive image capturing.
 5. The imagedevice according to claim 1, wherein a request for starting a processfor sharing the communication parameter using the sharing unit isbroadcasted.
 6. The image device according to claim 5, wherein thecommunication parameter is shared with a device selected by a user ofthe image device from among devices that have responded to the request.7. The image device according to claim 6, wherein the communicationparameter is shared with a device that has returned a connectionallowance response from among the devices selected by the user.
 8. Theimage device according to claim 6, wherein a thumbnail of the imagecaptured with the image capturing unit is transmitted to the deviceselected by the user via the second communication interface.
 9. Theimage device according to claim 1, further comprising: an operationmember configured to receive a shooting instruction according to anoperation from a user.
 10. The image device according to claim 1,further comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive a request forstarting to share the communication parameter from the external device.11. The image device according to claim 1, wherein the sharing unitshares the communication parameter with an external device correspondingto information about an object determined based on the captured imageamong the external devices.
 12. The image device according to claim 1,wherein the first communication interface has a higher communicationrate, a longer communication range, or a higher energy consumption perhour than the second communication interface.
 13. A method forcontrolling an image device connected to an external device with a firstcommunication interface and a second communication interface differentfrom the first communication interface, the method comprising: capturingan image in response to a shooting instruction; sharing a communicationparameter used for connecting the image device to the external devicevia the first communication interface with the external device via thesecond communication interface with the external device; connecting theimage device to the external device via the first communicationinterface using the shared communication parameter; and controlling aprocess for sharing the communication parameter to be started accordingto the shooting instruction.